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 Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:18 pm
The entomologist attempted a whistle, but you needed lips for that. As it was she simply blew out a breath in a rush. "I can't believe... even looking like this I never thought we were really turning into animals. Not on the inside, anyway."
She gestured helplessly, wanting to give her friend a hug but not sure of the mechanics of it anymore with her wings and Em's spines. "I'm so sorry."
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:21 pm
"It's okay," Em said softly- no longer allowing herself the ironic, dry voice that was so obviously a cover to something that had been a terrifying, life-altering (nearly life-robbing) experience. "It... was one of the worst moments of my life. But I'm okay- the pain is almost all gone- I'm just a little tender back there. ...And I haven't seen Jamal since." She left out that she'd holed herself up in the mountain home for nearly a week, depriving herself of food and water for fear of leaving... or that she'd dropped an alarming amount of weight (which Greer could probably see- after all, Em never wore more than a bikini top and shorts these days). She didn't even mention how she'd threatened Zach, and how she truly felt she might have stabbed him, had he come any closer to her. ...Em didn't even know if she knew Zach, anyway.
"I'm okay."
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:24 pm
Greer could hear the lie in her friend's voice, but felt unable to help. Hawks weren't built to give comfort. Stepping forward, she bumped Em's forehead lightly with hers.
"That's good."
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:26 pm
As feathers touched fur, Em wished she could wrap her arms around her friend... but obviously... neither of them was really built for that sort of careless affection anymore. Nay- they were instead delegated to this, odd- yet no less meaningful brand of comfort.
"Thanks, Greer," she said softly.
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 5:29 pm
"Any time." She straightened up, stomach reminding her why she came out here in the first place. "I'm sorry to head butt and run, but I need to go track down some tasty bunnies... take care of yourself, okay?"
She tried to smile once more, heading off into the jungle. Em needed to be okay. Greer wasn't up to losing anyone else anytime soon.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:11 am
New Rp
"It aint gonna rain no more no more... it aint gonna rain no more... so how the heck do I wash my neck... if it aint gonna rain no more no more...." Emelyn half-sang, half-chanted. The jungle was littered with plants, poking up through the earth, promising edible roots- there were grubs crawling under every rock and tiny green snakes slithering through so much of the underbrush... but Emelyn convinced herself to look past it all. She didn't need anymore food stores- not for a while, anyway- and the girl didn't want to put herself in the habit of being too animal-prioritized. Today was solely about enjoyment- walking, swimming- thinking and writing. In her back pocket, she'd folded up several sheets of paper for just that very thing- and although nothing had popped into her head that had struck her as noteworthy so far, she had her pencil at ready, tucked into the back pocket, as well. In her front, 'holster' pocket, her always-poised, self-carved flint knife was also at ready... as she doubted that the need would arise for a quick-draw pencil.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:25 am
Bobby strugged her sack over her shoulder as she left the cafeteria. It had been awhile since she had gone on one of her picnics, and esepcially not since her transformation. The woman took in a deep breath, stepping off the platform. What a grogeous day for a picnic! Too bad she didn't have a frisbee... or someone to play with.
The woman walked to the jungle. The smells entered her nostrils almost immediately. Musky moss, sweet flowers, fresh trees... it was going to be a great day, she could tell.
After awhile, the smells started getting to her. Bobby wound her way around, sniffing this and that intently. Small snorts escaped her nose, but nothing very lasting. When one new smell came, she would immediately divert.
Then, there was the smell of something human... well, partially human. It intrigued the pig's senses and Bobby was off. Her ears picked up the singing, which made her stop in her tracks. In a snap, the woman was in control again, the pig wanting nothing to do with this new arrival.
Bobby watched the woman for a little bit, assessing the character and danger level of the creature she beheld. But the other person was happily enjoying the weather, much like herself.
With a smile, she took a step forward and cleared her throat loudly. It came out like a squeal; but when she tried again, it came out correctly.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:32 am
It would be exaggeration to say that Emelyn leapt into a tree, or fainted down dead at the sound of the pealing squeal. However, it would also be understatement to say it didn't affect her at all.
"Holy crap!" She issued, mostly to herself- as she her arms went up in the air and her legs jumped back- all of which were a kneejerk reaction to the unfamiliar sound. Only after this split-second reaction did Emelyn's right hand jump down to her front pocket, lingering on the shape of the flint knife where it pushed up the fading denim. But it was merely a precaution- for without the haze of her confusion, the 'squealer' was visible- and her second noise sounded more like a polite clearing of the throat than anything else.
Emelyn let her hand idle at her side- the dark woman didn't look threatening- and stepped closer. Another new islander- well... not so new that she hadn't changed, anyway. Emelyn was relieved that she wouldn't have to play the bearer of bad news yet again- although, as always, a twinge of sadness coursed through her for the sake of yet another life ruined.
"Sorry about that. You get a little jumpy out here," she admitted. "...I don't believe we've met. I'm Emelyn."
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:38 am
Bobby stared at the girl's reaction. She had never imagined that her actions, however polite they had meant to be, would have such results. "Oh... umm... I'm Bobby." The woman was still slightly surprised by Emelyn's motions.
Slowly, the effects wore off, the the woman could give the girl a confused look. "You get jumpy out here?" Bobby looked around the area, wondering if she had missed something. Why would there be a need to get jumpy?
Of course, Bobby hadn't met that many people, and never experienced when a predator animal goes instinctual.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:43 am
Em nodded, bringing her hand up to rub at the back of her neck. It was still tense from her full-body surprise.
"Mm-hm. I ...live out here," she explained, "up on the mountain. ...And now that there are so many of us who are further along in the... changes, it can get a little dangerous out here." She wondered if, by the surprised look on the woman's face (for indeed- she was a woman, and no girl. Emelyn wondered how old she was, in passing...) that she may still know very little about the transformation process. Had Moreau found some new way to convince people that the changes that were happening to them were... temporary? Reversible?
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:55 am
It still wasn't entirely clear for her. Pyroth and Ambrose were pretty far, and she had never seen either of them attack. But it did start to make sense. At times, she had a hard time controlling the pig instinct. Surely the hunters would as well. Slowly, but surely, it sank in. And this girl lived out here by herself?
"Is there something wrong in the village area?" Bobby asked, pulling out an apple from her bag. She motioned toward Emelyn, wondering if she wanted one.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:03 am
Emelyn's eyes widened at the sight of the apple- she'd not had a decent piece of fruit in months, sans those sweet little berries she could find near the mountain. It was a rare treat, and she accepted it with a smile.
"Thanks, this will be delicious. ...And no... nothing wrong with the village so much as- I refuse to stay in it any longer. ...I don't know how long you've been on the island- but a few months ago, the doctors decided to lock us all out of the 'faux civilization' and force us to live in the wild for a month or so. Just to study us, see if we'd attack each other and how we'd hunt for food- animalistic things like that. ...Then, as if on a whim, they let everyone back into the village. ...And I just decided... not to go back at all. If Moreau is so intent on letting us all know that he can take away our comforts whenever he'd like- at least now I'm taking away his choice to do that." Emelyn paused, rubbing her finger across the surface of the apple, and gave an apologetic smile to Bobby.
"I'm sorry. That's a lot to hear from someone you just met. ...How long have you been on the island?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:22 am
Bobby smiled, but it was not a happy one, as she nodded. "I had heard, yes. Not exactly the most moralistic thing to do. Then again, I think they've kicked their morals out the door and pad-locked it!"
With a wave of her hand, Bobby showed she didn't mind. She was always an open ear for anything. "It's alright, I am beginning to understand. I think I have been hear around a month. Sadly, I cannot really remember... the days tend to just blur."
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:27 am
"They really do," Emelyn agreed, her voice filled with the static of the past seven or eight months- all the things that happened to her, all the adventures and trials of the island- and yet, if she closed her eyes for a mere second, she could see herself on the deck of the Wilhemina- or walking along the New England shore. She was less longing than.. nostalgic, wondering how all the days managed to slip past her so.
"Morals." She huffed a laugh. "I don't think they know what the word means."
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:33 am
She pulled out a pear for herself and took a bite. Her bottom canines were still slightly awkward, but she was working with it. While the month seemed to pass in no time at all, Bobby was also remembering how she felt on her 30th birthday... it was only yesterday that she held baby Patty in her arms!
"Hrmph," Bobby grunted, "too bad we can't beat it into them. Also, that would be nice compared to the things they've done!" She took another bite, and after a few more... well, the pear -seeds and all- was gone.
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